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Model Driven Engineering

Model Driven Engineering is a software development methodology that saves businesses a significant amount of time and money and enables them to streamline their operations. With all the parties working together within a single model, Model Driven Engineering improves coordination between the various stakeholders, resulting in a more robust software solution with fewer bugs. Model Driven Engineering is perfect for businesses with a need for complex and error-proof software, such as companies operating in the high tech industry. As one of the first software companies to specialize in this relatively new approach to software design, we at ICT Group look forward to assisting you by sharing our knowhow, expertise and experience.

The benefits:

#1 Fewer bugs

Software design and coding is work in which both the client and the designer play a vital role. Clients have a certain set of requirements, which the software architect then attempts to translate into software architecture, while the engineer writes the code. But it is during this process of translating the design to the code level that there is the potential for errors (known as ‘bugs’) in the software to come about. In Model Driven Engineering – sometimes called Model Driven Development – all the parties work together within a single model, keeping errors to a minimum. For more complex types of software, this methodology improves transparency, results in a more structured way of working, and makes it easier to oversee the process. Any bugs can be removed right at the start of the end-to-end process instead of on completion, preventing unnecessary time loss and out-of-control expenses.

#2 Error-free code through automation

In Model Driven Engineering, the stage of the process in which the design (i.e. the shared model) is translated into code is largely automated. Depending on the technology used, changes in the model can be converted into error-free code with one touch of the button. This streamlines the time-consuming process of manually copying changes in the design to code – which may lead to all sorts of bugs. This makes the design and development pro-cess significantly more efficient and cost-effective.

#3 No more separate Excel spreadsheets or Word files

Model Driven Engineering eliminates the need for separate Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, diagrams, and PDFs containing all manner of disjointed information about the software. Users can make changes to the model directly at any time, which can then be automatically converted into code, significantly reducing the time required to roll out changes. It also makes it possible to replace outdated (legacy) software more easily and effi-ciently.

#4 Model Driven Engineering creates improved prototypes

Model Driven Engineering makes prototyping more accessible and economical, since the method makes it possible to create virtual prototypes. Businesses can use the model to make calculations in the software before it is embedded into a machine. Using the virtual prototype to test the software results in a more solid and better-performing physical prototype. This is a perfect solution, in particular, for companies using complex equipment and devices with highly expensive prototypes, such as businesses operating in the high tech, medical, and defense industries. We would be pleased to show you how to implement this methodology into all your prototyping processes.

#5 Easier customization

Model Driven Engineering also adds value to customizable processes: this methodology allows users to quickly and easily adapt software to changing needs and situations. This is hugely advantageous for companies that use workflows, such as hospitals. By using Model Driven Engineering, hospitals can adjust the model themselves, thereby customizing the workflow for each separate treatment. This means they can avoid the hassle of needing to have these customizations programmed each time. In addition to saving time, this also pre-vents what is known as ‘vendor lock-in,’ where changes can only be implemented by exter-nal programmers at a hefty fee.

Join Us As a Pioneer!

ICT Group is establishing itself as a specialist in the relatively novel field of Model Driven Engineering, having already partnered with some of the leading names in the field, including Verum Software Tools, Cordis Automation and TNO-ESI. We are also running pilot projects at large companies where we are using Model Driven Engineering as a new tool.

We are training our people in this new software methodology, as this allows us to use our skills and expertise to provide advice and support to other companies. We are also offering in-house training in Model Driven Engineering to anyone interested.

If you would like more information about Model Driven Engineering and are interested in learning how it could benefit your business, please feel free to contact us. As our company motto should tell you, there’s nothing we love more than a good challenge!

Sirius Con 2017

At November 9th Waheed Ahmad and Olaf Donk have presented their experience using Sirius technology at SiriusCon 2017 in Paris. The title of their presentation was: “Get your stakeholders into modeling using graphical editors”

ICT Group is a leading technology solutions provider in the Netherlands. After witnessing a continuous raise in the complexity of software system, ICT group decided to offer Model Driven Engineering (MDE) as an alternative solution to its customers. To achieve further specialism in MDE and understand its pros and cons, ICT Group has partnered with some of the leading Dutch high tech companies to run pilot projects where MDE is being introduced as a main method of software development.

The presentation introduces a number of these pilot projects, where we have developed design tools comprising of Sirius based graphic editors and Domain Specifics Languages (DSLs). These tools allow formal specification of requirements, automatic analysis of system performance, and code generation. The models are designed using Sirius and are persisted textually using Xtext. We have found that the use of graphical editors in these projects greatly helped communicating designs between stakeholders and also leveraged the general acceptance of the MDE approach.

If you would like to find out more about MDE, please contact our professionals, Waheed Ahmad or Olaf Donk, to discuss the options available for your organization on a no obligation basis.

Cases

Sirius, a Model Driven Engineering tool

Blog MDE Brainport talentBOX

On the website of Brainport talentBOX you will find the blog about ‘MDE: The next step in software development.’ Ronald Wiericx and Olaf Donk (ICT Group) indicate in the blog why it’s time for Model Driven Engineering:

“The original approach of developing systems is to make a design in which the clients specifies what requirements need to be made.”

The designer creates a design from the requirements and the programmer develops the code. But each discipline speaks another language and often the result is not what other persons involved aimed at. In this process all parties that are involved make a lot of assumptions which in the end may prove to be false.

This so-called waterfall method is a very linear way of developing software and takes a long time.”

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